Nicoya Peninsula and the Pacific Beach Resorts Travel Guide
Sea, surf, sand and the Guanacaste lifestyle
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Located in north western Costa Rica, the Nicoya Peninsula is separated from the mainland of Costa Rica by the Gulf of Nicoya and the Tempisque Estuary. The Nicoya Peninsula has miles of fantastic sandy beaches with dramatic coastal scenery and small villages. This stunning coastline is dotted with small islands, turtle beaches and subterranean caves which are a haven for a variety of marine and bird life.
Nicoya is the major town of the peninsula and the first Spanish settlement in Costa Rica. The town is a great place to explore and is a starting point to discover the amazing beaches of this region.
Water-sports such as surfing, fishing, snorkeling and diving dominate much of the villages and their beaches, as the pacific side of Costa Rica presents one of the best stretches of surfing coastline in the world. The main attractions for water-sports and exploring are the beaches of Playa Tamarindo, Playa Hermosa, Playas del Coco, Samara and Montezuma.
The Nicoya Peninsula is divided into two provinces, Guanacaste which occupies the larger part in the north, and Puntarenas in the south. Cattle farming is a flourishing industry which occupies the majority of the sparsely populated interior, whilst tourism is concentrated along the coast where you will find the beaches of Tamarindo, Montezuma, Playas del Coco, popular for surfing, diving and snorkeling.
The countryside of the Peninsula’s interior is home to nature and animal reserves such as Monte Alto located in the mountains above Nicoya, which has 67 different species of orchid. In the mountains of southern Nicoya, the Karen Mogenson Nature Reserve has a variety of spectacular flora and fauna, many of which are in danger of extinction. You also have the chance to see rare animals like ocelots, jaguars, pumas and otters.
Attractions in Nicoya Peninsula and the Pacific Beach Resorts
The town of Nicoya, the cultural centre of the province of Guanacaste, was Costa Rica's first colonial city.
Tamarindo beach is made up of Playa Tamarindo, Playa Grande and Playa Ventanas and is ideal for relaxing, walking, horse riding, sport-fishing and diving tours, as well as visiting the mangrove swamp and observing nesting sea turtles.
Playa Hermosa has a lovely sandy beach around 2 km long with abundant coastal vegetation and the nearby islands of Isla Pelona and Isla Montosa.
Playas del Coco, at 3km long, is one of the most popular beaches.
Montezuma has an extremely beautiful coastline with a sandy beach and rocky outcrops.
Samara is a perfect place to relax and soak up the sun. Its small village is unpretentious and has a laid-back atmosphere. The pale sandy beach which is shaded by palms and old fig trees is suitable for surfing and swimming.
Activities in Nicoya Peninsula and the Pacific Beach Resorts
As well as enjoying the beaches and water-sports, the area has many opportunities for other activities such as walking, quadricycle or all-terrain-vehicle tours, tour mangrove swamps by boat, visit butterfly gardens, horse riding and dolphin watching. Bird-watching can be enjoyed in various public and private protected areas, including Negritos, Pajaros, Cabo Blanco, Carara and Curu.
Relaxing
With a fantastic choice of beaches this is a great place to relax, sunbathe and swim.
Getting Around
The Peninsula can be reached by road from the northern province of Guanacaste, but the easiest way from the Costa Rica mainland is to cross the Gulf of Nicoya by ferry from Puntarenas. The bridge over the Tempisque Estuary also offers easy access to the central and south areas of the Peninsula.
Nicoya Peninsula and the Pacific Beach Resorts Reviews
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